Near infrared microbial elimination laser system

Abstract

Dual wavelength laser energy in the near infrared electromagnetic spectrum is described as destroying bacteria via photo-damage optical interactions through direct selective absorption of optical energy by intracellular bacterial chromophores. Use of various dual wave length laser systems include use of optical assembly including two distinct diode laser ranges (including 870 nm and 930 nm) that can be emitted to achieve maximal bacterial elimination without intolerable heat deposition. Related processes for medical procedures are also described.

1 . A process for destroying bacteria in a bacterial locale, said process comprising: 
 (a) energizing a laser to cause the selective emission of first radiation in a first wavelength range of 865 nm to 875 nm and the selective emission of second radiation at a second wavelength range of 925 nm to 935 nm;    (b) establishing a path for the transmission of said first radiation and said second radiation from said laser oscillator sub-system; and    (c) enabling delivery of said first radiation and said second radiation from said laser oscillator sub-system through said optical channel to the site of said bacterial locale;    (d) said first radiation and said second radiation activating a chromophore from said bacterial locale and cooperating with said chromophore to destroy bacteria in said bacterial locale.    
   
   
       2 . A process for destroying bacteria in a bacterial locale, said process comprising: 
 (a) energizing a laser to cause the selective emission of first radiation in the selected wavelength of 870 nm and the selective emission of second radiation in the selective wavelength range of 930 nm;    (b) establishing a path for the transmission of said first radiation and said second radiation from said laser oscillator sub-system; and    (c) enabling delivery of said first radiation and said second radiation from said laser oscillator sub-system through said optical channel to the site of said bacterial locale;    (d) said first radiation and said second radiation interacting with a chromophore from said bacterial locale and cooperating with said chromophore to cause a reaction with bacteria in said bacterial locale.    
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein said bacteria is  E. coli.    
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein said reaction is a generation of toxic singlet oxygen reaction and/or radical oxygen species.  
   
   
       5 . A laser process comprising destroying bacteria in an infected locale by a reaction resulting from application to said infected locale of laser radiation, which is primarily of two wavelength ranges that are generated by a laser system: 
 (a) said bacteria including  E. coli;      (b) said system comprising:    (1) a housing and a control;    (2) a laser oscillator sub-system within said housing for causing the selective emission under said control of first radiation that is primarily in a first wavelength range of 865 nm to 875 nm, and the selective emission under said control of second radiation at a second wavelength range that is primarily in a wavelength range of 925 nm to 935 nm;    (3) an optical channel for transmission of said first radiation and said second radiation from said laser oscillator sub-system; and    (4) a head for enabling delivery of said first radiation and said second radiation from said laser oscillator sub-system through said optical channel to the site of said bacterial locale;    (5) said first radiation and said second radiation interacting with a chromophore from said bacterial locale and cooperating with said chromophore to destroy said bacteria in said bacterial locale.    
   
   
       6 . A laser process comprising destroying bacteria in an infected locale by a reaction resulting from application to said infected locale of laser radiation, which is primarily of two wavelength ranges that are generated by a laser system, said system comprising: 
 (a) a housing and a control;    (b) a laser oscillator sub-system within said housing for causing the selective emission under said control of first radiation that is primarily in a first wavelength range of 865 nm to 875 nm, and the selective emission under said control of second radiation at a second wavelength range that is primarily in a wavelength range of 925 nm to 935 nm;    (c) an optical channel for transmission of said first radiation and said second radiation from said laser oscillator sub-system; and    (d) a head for enabling delivery of said first radiation and said second radiation from said laser oscillator sub-system through said optical channel to the site of said bacterial locale;    (e) said first radiation and said second radiation interacting with a chromophore from said bacterial locale and cooperating with said chromophore to destroy said bacteria in said bacterial locale;    (f) said reaction being a toxic singlet oxygen reaction and/or generation of radical oxygen species.    
   
   
       7 . A dental process comprising scaling an infected locale and simultaneously destroying bacteria in said infected locale by a reaction resulting from application to said infected locale of laser radiation, which is primarily of two wavelength ranges that are generated by a laser system, said system comprising: 
 (a) a housing and a control, said system comprising a head that includes a dental scaler and an optical egress in close proximity;    (b) a laser oscillator sub-system within said housing for causing the selective emission under said control of first radiation that is primarily in a first wavelength range of 865 nm to 875 nm, and the selective emission under said control of second radiation at a second wavelength range that is primarily in a wavelength range of 925 nm to 935 nm;    (c) an optical channel for transmission of said first radiation and said second radiation from said laser oscillator sub-system;    (d) said head enabling delivery of said first radiation and said second radiation from said laser oscillator sub-system through said optical channel to the site of said bacterial locale;    (e) said first radiation and said second radiation interacting with a chromophore from said bacterial locale and cooperating with said chromophore to destroy said bacteria in said bacterial locale; and    (f) said reaction being a toxic singlet oxygen reaction and/or generation of radical oxygen species.    
   
   
       8 . A dental process comprising: 
 (a) inserting a mechanical probe into an infected root canal to expose said root canal;    (b) removing said mechanical probe from said infected root canal;    (c) inserting an optical probe into said infected root canal to cause a reaction in bacteria in said infected root canal by transmission of laser radiation from said optical probe to bacteria in said infected root canal;    (d) said laser radiation consisting essentially of one or both of a first radiation and a second radiation, said first radiation being primarily in a first wavelength range of 865 nm to 875 nm, and said second radiation being primarily in a second wavelength range of 925 nm to 935 nm;    (e) said first radiation and/or said second radiation interacting with a chromophore in said bacterial locale and cooperating with said chromophore to destroy said bacteria;    (f) said reaction being a toxic singlet oxygen reaction; and    (g) removing said optical probe from said root canal.    
   
   
       9 . The process of  claim 8  wherein said bacteria is  E. coli.    
   
   
       10 . A therapeutic process comprising: 
 (a) inserting a diseased digital member into a clip having a pair of opposed elements;    (b) said opposed elements having optical egresses in communication with opposed sections of said digital member;    (c) causing a reaction in bacteria in said diseased digital member by transmission of laser radiation from said optical egresses to said bacteria;    (d) said laser radiation consisting essentially of one or both of a first radiation and a second radiation, said first radiation being primarily in a first wavelength range of 865 nm to 875 nm, and said second radiation being primarily in a second wavelength range of 925 nm to 935 nm;    (e) said first radiation and/or said second radiation interacting with a chromophore in said bacteria and cooperating with said chromophore to destroy said bacteria;    (f) said reaction being a toxic singlet oxygen reaction and/or generation of radical oxygen species.    
   
   
       11 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein said bacteria is  E. coli.    
   
   
       12 . A therapeutic process comprising: 
 (a) inserting an otoscope into an infected ear canal;    (b) providing said otoscope with an optical egress configured and arranged for optical communication with said ear canal;    (c) transmitting laser radiation from said optical egress to said bacteria; wherein said laser radiation consisting essentially of one or both of a first radiation and a second radiation, said first radiation being primarily in a first wavelength range of 865 nm to 875 nm, and said second radiation being primarily in a second wavelength range of 925 nm to 935 nm; and    (e) causing a reaction in bacteria in said infected ear canal by said first radiation and/or said second radiation activating a chromophore in said bacteria and cooperating with said chromophore to destroy said bacteria, wherein said reaction includes a toxic singlet oxygen and/or radical oxygen species reaction.    
   
   
       13 . A therapeutic process comprising: 
 (a) subjecting a diseased anatomical locale to laser radiation;    (b) causing a reaction in bacteria in said diseased locale by transmission of laser radiation to said bacteria;    (c) said laser radiation consisting essentially of one or both of a first radiation and a second radiation, said first radiation being primarily in a first wavelength range of 865 nm to 875 nm, and said second radiation being primarily in a second wavelength range of 925 nm to 935 nm;    (d) said first radiation and/or said second radiation interacting with a chromophore in said bacteria and cooperating with said chromophore to destroy said bacteria;    (e) said reaction being a toxic singlet oxygen reaction and/or generation of radical oxygen species.    
   
   
       14 . A process of using a laser system for therapeutic treatment of bacteria in an infected site with non-ionizing optical energy and without detrimental heat deposition or irreversible harm to a biological system including the infected site, the process comprising: 
 (a) producing laser emission with a laser oscillator system configured and arranged to selectively emit near infrared radiation at a power density in one or both of a first wavelength range of about 865 nm to about 875 nm and a second wavelength range of about 925 nm to about 935 nm;    (b) controlling the laser emission with a control connected to the laser oscillator system, the control configured and arranged to control the selective emission of near infrared energy at the power density from the laser oscillator system for absorption as non-ionizing optical energy without detrimental heat deposition or irreversible harm to the biological system at the infected site; and    (c) transmitting the near infrared radiation to the infected site at the power density for absorption as non-ionizing optical energy without detrimental heat deposition or irreversible harm to the biological system at the infected site.    
   
   
       15 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein transmitting the near infrared radiation to the infected site includes using an optical channel connected to the laser oscillator system, the optical channel configured and arranged for transmission of the near infrared radiation.  
   
   
       16 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein transmitting the near infrared radiation to the infected site includes using a head configured and arranged to deliver the near infrared energy from the laser oscillator system and the optical channel to bacteria in the infected site at the power density for absorption as non-ionizing optical energy without detrimental heat deposition or irreversible harm to the biological system at the infected site.  
   
   
       17 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein the control is configured and arranged to adjust the power density of the emitted near infrared energy, forming an adjusted power density, wherein the adjusted power density comprises a necessary bactericidal density at the infected site.  
   
   
       18 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein the control is configured and arranged to adjust the power density by (i) adjusting the power of the emitted near infrared energy, (ii) adjusting the spot size of the emitted near infrared energy, or (iii) by scanning a beam spot of the emitted near infrared energy across the infected site.  
   
   
       19 . The process of  claim 14 , further comprising using a housing to hold the laser oscillator system.  
   
   
       20 . The process of  claim 14 , further comprising adapting the first wavelength range and the second wavelength range to interact with one or more intracellular bacterial chromophores for the generation of singlet oxygen or radical oxygen species in the bacteria to weaken or destroy bacteria in the infected site.  
   
   
       21 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein transmitting the near infrared radiation to the infected site includes minimal heat deposition in the infected site, wherein the temperature of the infected site is maintained below that which would cause irreversible harm to the biological system.  
   
   
       22 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein transmitting the near infrared radiation to the infected site includes bacterial destruction based on the Power Density of the incident beam, reaching a bactericidal density below tissue coagulation power density.  
   
   
       23 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein transmitting the near infrared radiation to the infected site includes bacterial destruction based on the Power Density of the incident beam selected such that human tissue will be able to survive irradiation with the near infrared radiation.  
   
   
       24 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein transmitting the near infrared radiation to the infected site includes bacterial destruction at power densities that will selectively excite the biomolecule electrons of one or more targeted chromophores into a higher vibrational state to effect antibacterial action.